Delbert was burned while playing at 151 Perry Street with a few other children. They were burning grass, possibly trying to roast marshmallows, said Capt. Pat Talkington, acting medical battalion chief for Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical. Someone threw gas on the flames, he said, and the flames leapt up and scorched Delbert's arms.

Fire & Medical responded to a fire call at the address at 1:16 p.m., but when they arrived the fire was out. They transported Delbert to Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He later was transferred to Children's Mercy.